Aeroplane.



W. V. GAGE.

AEROPLANE.

APPLLCATION FILED MAR. 25. 1914.

l 1 5 1 l 72. Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

iv V EN TOR.

WITNESSES:

WILL V. GAGE, OF PRIMERO, COLORADO.

AEROPLANE.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILL V. GAGE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Priis longitudinally movably mounted at the lower portion of the keel.

The carrier which provides a seat for the aviator .contains the steering apparatus and the motor of the vessel, and the propeller which is operatively connected with the motor is rotatably supported on the keel beyond the rear end of the supporting plane.

Simple means are provided for adjusting 'theposition of the supporting plane to any selected angle with relation to the keel plane and for moving the carrier forward or rearward on the latter at the will of the aviator who thereby controls every movement of the machine while in flight, and constantly maintains its equilibrium without the use of rudders, elevating planes, ailerons or other governingdevices employed on the majorityof flying machines at present in use.

The operation of my improved machine is in consequence simplified to an extent that but little training is required to manage it under all conditions, and the danger of its turning turtle by adverse air currents or other causes, is reduced 'to-the minimum, it. being observed that the keel which normally extends at right angles to the supporting plane, and the position of the carrier at the lower end of the same, tend to constantly maintain the machine in an upright position.

The peculiar construction of the supporting plane and the arrangement of the other parts with relation thereto, render the machine capable of rising readily from the ground without any adjustment except the position of the carrier on the keel plane, while after the vessel has reached the desired elevation and its weight is supported on the air below it,but slight adjustment of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

Applicatiomfiled March 25, 1914. Serial N 0. 827,146.

the supporting plane and the carrier with relation to the keel are required to perfectly pontrol its movements in any desired direcion. The provision of the keel which counteracts the eflect of wind forces tending todisturb the equilibrium of the machine by their effect on the supporting plane, and the low position of the center of gravity on the keel together with the simple and highlyefl'ective steering means, render the machine exceptionally safe and permit of its continued operation during a long period of time and its safe landing in case of breakage of its operative parts, or other accident. I attain the above described objects by the means illustrated in ,the accompanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are similarly designated and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved flying machine with the supporting plane shown in longitudinal section, Fig. 2, a transverse section 7 takenalong the line 22, Fig. 1, Fig. 3, a longitudinal section through the carrier drawn to a larger scale,

Fig. 4:, a transverse section along the line H, Fig. 3,'Fig. 5, asimilar section taken along the line 55, Fig. 3, and Fig. 6, an enlarged elevation of the motor shaft at the pcgilnts at which it is longitudinally extens1 e.

The reference numeral 2 designates in the drawings the supporting plane, the characteristic features of which are its upwardly curved-end 3 which is of great advantage in handling the machine whenlanding or when rising from the ground, and its reversely curved, transverse form which resembles that of a bird in flight, and greatly increases the sustaining qualities and the stability of the plane when the machine is in action. In transverse section the plane is centrally curved downwardly and its outer portions are curved reversely as shown in Fig. 2.

Secured at the under side of the supporting plane in its longitudinal aXis is a rib i which extends at right angles to the plane for its reinforcement as well as for the provision of means for connecting it with the keel plane which in the drawings is designated by the numeral 5, the two parts being furthermore strengthened and braced by the proper application of truss-rods 34. The keel consists of a flatplate which at its upper rectilinear edge is reinforced by a lingitudinally extending beam 6 and the lower edge i of which curves from its front end upwardly to its pointed rear end. The beam 6 being disposed parallel to and in close proximity to the lower edge of the rib on the support;- ing plane, is secured thereto by means of a suitable hinge-joint 7 and it is provided at one of its sides with bearings 8 to rotatably support the longitudinallyextendingshaft 9 of the propeller 10 which is positioned beyond the rear end of the two planes. The

keel plane has in its lower portion adjacent its front end, a recess 12 to receive the pref erably boat-shaped carrier 13 in which the motor and the steering apparatus of the flying machine are mounted and which is slidably suspended from longitudinally extending guide rods 14 on opposite sides of the beam 6 by meansof sleeves 15 connected tical plane of its longitudinal axis.

effect the adjustment of the carrier for this purpose, a screw 17 is provided, which at its ends is fixed in the recess of the keel and '30 which extends lengthwise through the carthe sides of the carrier. mounted-for longitudinal adjustment on the at the upper ends of hangers 16 which at their opposite extremities are attached to The carrier thus keel, serves tochangethe. direction of the machine up or downwardly by varying the position of its center'of gravity in the ver- A nut rotatably. mounted in a bearing 19 I on the floor of the'carrier as shown in Fig.

I 5, is fitted upon the'screw, and formed* in the center of asprocket-wheel 18' which by I means of a chain 20 is connected with a similar wheel 21 of large'r'diameten rotatably mounted on the bearing at a point of higher eleyation, in connection -with a steering wheel 22. By rotating the wheel, the nut maybe moved along the screw in either directionand the position of the carrier on 1 thekeel correspondingly varied for the purpose of tilting the machine. up or .down-.

. at points adjacent the longitudinal edges of the supporting plane and which i ylooped around a winding drum 24 mounted in a I wardly as 'hereinbefore described. -To

change the course ofthe vessel laterally, the

angle of the supporting plane with relation to the'keel plane isvaried by tilting it about its pivotal axis on the beam 6. This movement may be accomplished by means of a ropeor cable23 which at its ends is attached bearing 25 on the carrier as shown in Fig. 4.

- A steering wheel 26 on the shaft of the drum is provided to rotate the latter in either direction for the purpose of tilting the supporting plane-to any desired angle with rela tion to the keel and thereby change the direction in which the vessel is propelled by the action ofthe propeller "at its rearward end.

' The motor for'operating" the propeller, WhlCh in the drawings is designated by the numeral '27, is operatively connected with the propeller shaft on the beam by mean of an upright shaft 28 which isconnected with the ends of the propeller shaft by a universal joint 29 and which is rendered longitudinally extensible by being made in two axially alined parts, slidably connected by a sleeve 30, best shownin Fig. 6. The wheels 31 which support'the vessel on the ground when not in flight, aremounted at the ends of laterally extending arms 32 which prothe keel at opposite ends of the recess in which the carrier is m'ovably disposed.

It will be observed that the adjustment of the carrier and the planes are equally effective for restoring the equilibrium of the machine when disturbed by adverse wind forces. or other causes, as for changing the direction of its course when in flight, and I desireit understoor that .the construction and arrangement of the means whereby these ad justments are efi'ected may be varied from those shown in the drawings within the spirit of my invention as defined in the folporting plane curving upwardly at its frontend, and in transverse section, curving cenjectoppositely from the lower portion of trally downwardly, and reversely at its outer. portions, and a keel plane connected at right angles to the supporting plane, in of the longitudinal axis of the the plane same.

3-. A flying machine comprising a .supporting plane curving upwardly atits frontend and, in transverse section, curving centrally downwardly, and reversely at its outer portions, a rib' connected at right angles to the supporting plane, in the longitudinal axis of the same, truss rods between said rib and said plane, and a keel plane pivotally connected with said rib.

4. A flying machine comprising a supporting plane, a keel plane connected to extend in a plane of'a-n axis thereof, a screw mounted on the-keel-plane, a carrier, and a;

nut rotatably mounted 'on the carrier. and fitted on the said screw. I

5. A flying machine comprising a normally vertical keel-plane, a supporting plane laterally tiltably connected therewith, a carrier mounted on the keel plane to move longitudinally with relationthereto, and ap- Y pliances for the adjustment of said supporting plane and said carrier.

6. A flying machine comprising a norinally vertical keel-plane, a supporting plane laterally tiltably connected therewith, a carrier mounted on the keel plane tomove longitudinally with relation thereto, and. ap-

fpliances on said carrier for its own adjustment and that of the said suppoing plane.

7. A flying machine comprislng a normally vertical keel-plane, a supporting plane laterally tiltably connected therewith, a carrier mounted on the keel plane to move longitudinally with relation thereto, a PIO? peller at an end of the supportingplane, a motor mounted on the carrier, a self-adjusting operative connection between said motor and said propeller, and appliances on said carrier for its own adjustment and that of the supporting plane. 1

8. A flying machine comprising a normally vertical keel-plane, a supportingplane laterally tiltably connected therewith, a carrier mounted on the keel plane to move longitudinally with relation thereto, a pro-* 'peller rotatablymounted on the keel plane at an end of the supporting plane, a motor mounted on the carrier, a self-adjustingopierative connection between said motor and 10. A flying machine=-comprising asup-,

A porting plane and a keel plane normally at right angles to each other and relatively adjustable for varying the angles betweenthem, a carrier mounted on the keel plane, to be moved longitudinally with relation thereto, and appliances on said carrier for effecting its own adjustment and that of said planes.

11. A flying machine comprislng a keel- ;plane, a supporting plane laterally tiltably connected therewith, ,a weight mounted on the keel plane to move longitudinally with relation thereto, means 'for the adjustment.

'of the said supporting plane, and means for the adjustment of the said weight.

surface and the other surfaces.

12. Ina flying machine comprising a supporting plane curving upwardly at its front end and in transverse section curving centrally downwardly and reversely at its outer of the supporting plane by moving it about" its pivotal axis. Y

13. A flying machine comprising an oblong supporting plane, a ,keel plane having a pivotal connection with I the supporting plane in a planeof the major axis thereof, a

carrier on the keel plane, and means for the adjustment of one of the planes to vary the angles between them. 1

14,: A flying machine comprising an oblong supporting plane, a keel plane of similar length having atits upper longitudinal edge a pivotal connection with the supporting plane in a plane of the major axis thereof, a carrier on the keel plane, and means forthe adjustment of one of -.the planes to vary the angles between them.

15. A flying mach-'ne compr sing three plane-surfaces of substantially equal length which diverge from a common axis extending longitudinally of the said surfaces, a carrier, on one of said surfaces,and means for vary: ing the angles between the last-mentioned 16. A flying machine comprising a supporting plane, a keel plane having a pivotal connection with the supporting plane, in a plane of the fore-and aft axis thereof, a carrier'on'the keel plane, and means for the adjustment of one of the planes to vary the angles between them, the said keel plane presenting a resistance surface extends fore and aft of the carrier and between the car-- Witnesses:

j THOMANO CARARRAs,

LOUIS PALLArn.

. W L v. GAGE. 

